SLIPPERY ROCK — Adrienne Orris needs a bigger dictionary.

The Slippery Rock High girls basketball coach is running out of words to describe Jence Rhoads.

The senior point guard recorded a triple-double against visiting General McLane with 42 points, 15 rebounds and 10 assists as the Rockets knocked off the state-ranked Lancers 76-61 Thursday night.

"It's getting a little hard (to find superlatives)," Orris said. "She sets the pace for us. When we need that little extra, she gives us that little extra."

Or a lot extra.

Rhoads had a double-double by halftime as Slippery Rock clung to a 24-23 lead. But in a frenetic final two quarters, she sent everyone in the Slippery Rock gym to their dictionary and thesaurus to find a word that truly describes her.

Splendid. Magnificent. Astonishing. All those came to the mind of McLane coach Meghan Meabon.

It also sent SlipperyRock fans onto the court after the game, pointing their camera phones at the scoreboard to capture the moment.

"We knew all about Jence," Meabon said. "Defensively, we just didn't do a good job keeping her off the board."

Rhoads had 26 points in the second half to help Slippery Rock pull away. In the game, she was 16-of-25 from the field and 10-of-13 from the free throw line.

The Rockets (12-9) scored 52 points in the final 16 minutes and shot a scintillating 76 percent from the field as a team in that span.

Rhoads, whose 42 points were a career high, simply smiled and shrugged. All in a day's work.

While finding a word that hasn't already been used to describe Rhoads was a difficult task, it wasn't hard for Orris to find a word to inspire her team against the ninth-ranked Class AAA team in the state.

Fluke.

After handing Sharon, another top-ranked team, its first region loss Monday, Orris wanted to make sure her team didn't believe those who thought the Rockets' win over the Tigers was an aberration.

"Fluke was the word I used at practice the next day," Orris said. "I put two words on the board. Fluke and consistency. If people are going to call it a fluke, then we have to show them something different."

Slippery Rock got off to another slow start, missing its first seven shots and falling behind 6-0. But the Rockets stormed back.

McLane's only lead of the second half was 27-26 with 6:50 remaining in the third quarter.

Slippery Rock led by as many as 16 midway through the fourth quarter.

Rhoads played most of the final quarter with four fouls — an uncomfortable feeling for both player and coach.

"I know I can't foul out because my team needs me on the floor," Rhoads said. "I just tried not to do anything stupid."

Lost inRhoads' effort was that of McLane's Tori Hansen, who scored 31 points and nearly willed the Lancers back into the game.

She was 12-of-27 from the field and hit three deep 3-pointers in the fourth quarter to keep McLane on life support.

The game might be a playoff preview. McLane (16-3) certainly hopes so.

"I told these girls if we want to do anything in the district playoffs, we're going to have to go through that team," Meabon said. "Hopefully we can change a few things the next time."

GENERAL McLANE 61Tori Hansen 12-27 4-6 31, Kelly Lewis 5-12 0-0 12, Sarah Schultz 4-11 0-0 9, Kayla Jeska 1-9 1-3 3, Sarah Hansen 1-6 0-0 3, Renee Seth 1-2 0-0 2, Ashley Dougherty 0-1 1-2 1.

Totals: 24-68 6-11 61

SLIPPERY ROCK 76Jence Rhoads 16-25 10-13 42, Sarah Cessar 3-6 0-0 6, Karly Rhoads 5-8 4-7 14, Emma Walter 0-0 0-0 0, Kourtney Rhoads 4-10 0-0 8, Jenna Rinker 1-3 2-2 4, Adele Campbell 0-1 0-0 0.

Totals: 30-54 16-22 74

McLane 11 12 17 21—61Slippery Rock 11 13 21 31—763-point goals: General McLane 7 (Tori Hansen 3, Lewis 2, Schultz, SarahHansen)

JV: Slippery Rock 49-39

Monday: Slippery Rock at Grove City